one small step for Japan. a GTX in N America

[bravekozak]

I'd kill for Festiva floor mats

Death.

[F3BZ]

thanks for all comments. i removed the password requirement. just took a while to figure how. importing the car through customs is reasonably easy as long as the car is 25 yrs old and unmodified. it is at the state/local level where various entities will try your patience and stonewall the registration process. if you just want to import a JDM car for parts though, no problem except getting rid of the carcass without a title. there is no state that prohibits a RHD vehicle on its roads and this was not an issue for anyone except for my insurance agent who insisted it it couldn't be legal. i had to mediate between her and the DMV to convince her otherwise. my notary also had doubts and had to be arm twisted to send in the application for title.
buying the car was made a little easier thanks to it belonging to the guy in vancouver who also has the GTA and had already eaten the transportation cost from japan and had it registered in canada. thanks to a broker in calif called SooHoo Customs Broker who i highly recommend, the entire importation process was handled by them. i just had to email a few forms and a very reasonable $435 check. it would be more involved if i was getting a car straight from japan but from what i've seen there are middleman services that will represent you in a car auction site and get your purchase on its way.
i just recently talked with a PA inspection compliance officer and was glad to hear that they would let the car pass without alot of the DOT marked items. (lights, tires, mirrors). and if i wait till jan 1st, emissions will consist only of a visual inspection of the gas cap and filler neck (unleaded) restrictor plate.
i have no plans for the car other than an intense cosmetic detailing and top replacement. hopefully the BJ version of the 1.3 is as reliable as our SOHC. many of the engine internal and external pieces are unique to that engine and obsolete. a few parts are shared with the mazda 323 1.6 like rings.
brave, i think the caps you mention on rear counter will be the small plastic ones. not the rubber covers even though ford illustrates the big covers in their parts diagram. the rubber ones have a mazda #. D00434019.
here hopefully is a working link to the vid of the car touching down on US asphalt. that's not me driving.

http://s128.photobucket.com/user/F3BZ/library/VIDEOs

[sketchman]

Looks so perfect coming off the trailer. Like you had a time machine and took that camera back to buy a brand new one of those. Sweeeeeet.

[navdoc101]

I just keep looking at the pics.

[nitrofarm]

F3 Thanks for the info,what would you guess you have into the Grand Total of Legal cost's? Not including actual purchase cost's. And does anyone know about the Japan laws concerning older cars? . If you own an older car there does it cost more to drive/insure it (why do they seem to part out such good cars).

[TominMO]

Being just up the road in PA, you will of course be bringing it to Madness IX in Oct '15?

[TorqueEffect]

F3 Thanks for the info,what would you guess you have into the Grand Total of Legal cost's? Not including actual purchase cost's. And does anyone know about the Japan laws concerning older cars? . If you own an older car there does it cost more to drive/insure it (why do they seem to part out such good cars).

Japan has extreme emissions standards, you have to swap engines or scrap the car at 40k miles in Japan. Could you imagine if that was put into effect tomorrow in the U.S? I think 90% of the cars would disappear from the roads. Not counting us that would say "$@#% you!" to the government and drive anyway.

[F3BZ]

i heard that too. seems crazy. but then that explains why so many JDM engines FS have around 40K on em. i was trying to explain to my inspection mechanic that the 5spd. GTX with EFI most likely had cleaner tailpipe emissions than any US spec 89 Festiva.
1st thing i do after passing inspection/emissions is to celebrate. i'm going through a Burger King drive thru - BACKWARDS!

as far as costs above what you'd normally pay when buying any new/used car, there was a $135 duty tax to the feds based on the value and as mentioned, a flat $435 to the broker. considering all the help and convenience they supplied it was very much worth it. i can't say how much it would be to retain a rep to buy and ship a car from japan i can't say. rumor is that another site member is taking delivery soon of another "X" from a japan auction. if true, they will have better insight. it does seem that the cars are a lot cheaper at the japan auctions so that might offset some of the additional shipping/storage costs.

[nitrofarm]

Man I always figured it would way more than a measly $400. Thats really tempting I wonder if I could used to shifting with my left.

[Movin]

Sitting right and shifting left could be the new cool!

[jawja jim]

From my days of renting RHD cars in Africa, the instructions for shifting are: wind out gear, depress clutch, bump door with right hand, curse, then shift with left.

[TominMO]

Man I always figured it would way more than a measly $400. Thats really tempting I wonder if I could used to shifting with my left.

I did it in China with my RHD MGB (which came from Australia originally). Easy to make the transition.

[F3BZ]

tollbooths will be a PIA

[sketchman]

Handbrake 180 in. J-turn out. Done.

[nonamekid]

Handbrake 180 in. J-turn out. Done.

Don't forget the ticket for exhibition driving.:p